Final Notice

His hair was a bit shaggier back then.  Then again, when you're running the streets and living in low end apartments, or in boxes in alleyways during the leaner times, keeping clean was more important than spending a few creds to get your hair cut.

This month was one of the better ones.  The Reds had increased their hold on a section of the metropolis which meant more money.  Larger territories meant more business when it came to selling the sand or fencing tech.  The bump in income filtered down to even the lowest lackey.

Kaityah held back an impulse to reach out and ruffle Colin's hair.  They had decided to pool their income and rent out an apartment that was a bit nicer than what they usually lived in.  Proof that they were living a bit higher on the hog was strewn about the living area - take-out food cartons were scattered on the table in the living room, the cooler was stock full of provisions as were the cabinets.  Not only that but they had blown a good chunk of their savings on upgraded pistols which gleamed in the dim light.

"I'm thinking of leaving the Reds, Kait…"  Colin's voice was quiet yet echoed slightly in the room.  Momentarily closing her eyes, Kaityah ran her fingers through her cornsilk blond hair.  The signs had been there - she knew she was losing her brother, but to hear him say it… she rubbed her other hand over her heart.

"You know they'll kill you the moment you leave, especially if you toss in with any of our rivals."

"I'd like to see them try to take on the Alliance."

"Wait… what?"

"I'm tired of living hand to mouth, Kait.  While I'm glad you took me in, you know I hate having to ride under the radar and that selling sand leaves a bad taste in my mouth.  I want to take what I do know, the training I already have, and see if anything good comes of it," he sighed.

"And if they don't accept you?  What then?  The Reds won't take you back, y'know.  Instead they'll try to snuff you out every chance they get for turning your back on them."

"I've already been accepted into Basic.  I leave at the end of the week for training."

A small smile curved the edges of her lips.  Colin was a good sort and this life wasn't for him.  She'd known it from day one but she also wasn't about to let a kid die on the streets for lack of any care.  Better in the Reds than dead from weather exposure or any other predator that roamed the streets.

"Good for you, kid.  You deserve something better than what I could give ya.  Just don't forget about me while you're riding the stars, k?"

Colin laughed and threw his arm over Kait's shoulders, tugging her close and pressing the sides of their heads together.  They sat there like that for a while, facing toward the vid screen that was playing some sort of movie, though neither one knew what was happening in the story.

"You know I wouldn't forget about you.  Hell, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had the skills that helped me fly through the initial testing that the Alliance administered.  We both know that if you hadn't come along, I might not even be alive right now.  You mean too much to me for me to just drop you the moment you're out of sight."

"Yeah, I know," she smiled.

"Besides, I know well enough that if I don't keep in regular contact with you, you'll find some way to bust inside the base and kick my ass," he chuckled.

"True 'nough.  So what should we do to celebrate you getting into the Alliance?"

"Let's head down to the arcade.  I wanna see if I can finally beat your high score on any of the shooter machines."

"Hell will freeze over first, kiddo.  You couldn't beat me even if I were piss-assed drunk and falling over," she cackled.

"Put your money where your mouth is."

"You're on, baby face."

*****

Kaityah watched as Colin disappeared into the Alliance shuttle a few days later.  Sticking to the shadows, she crept back toward their apartment the moment the Kodiak was out of view.  It would feel too empty without him now that she knew he wouldn't be coming back.  Locking the door behind her, she fell onto one of the plush chairs the moment she reached the living room.  Catching sight of a piece of paper on the table where there hadn't been one earlier, she pulled it out from underneath a datapad, causing a pile of credit chits to fall to the floor.

Sis,

Figured you could use these more than I could since I'm now on the Alliance payroll.  Looks like that cold day in hell finally did happen since I blew your score out of the water on that last game.  Going to miss you tons.  Just take care of yourself.  I know you'll find some way to keep your ass out of the line of fire once everyone else realizes I'm gone.

Love,
Colin

Kait doubled over in laughter as she read the first part of the note, that laugh then turning into a waterfall of tears.  Her sobs echoed throughout the apartment until she tired herself out and collapsed back in the chair within the twilight of the room.